DEC Reopens Shellfishing Areas in Cold Spring Harbor

Oyster Bay, NY - May 30, 2014 - Shellfish harvesting in the normally certified (open) areas of Cold Spring Harbor, in the towns of Oyster Bay and Huntington, will again be permitted effective on Saturday, May 31, 2014, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced today.

DEC implemented temporary closures of Cold Spring Harbor and Oyster Bay Harbor on May 23 following a malfunction at the wastewater treatment plant in the Oyster Bay Sewer District which released approximately 125,000 gallons of partially treated sewage and sludge into Oyster Bay Harbor.

Based on a review of a dilution analysis and the results of its examination of water samples from Cold Spring Harbor, DEC determined that conditions that may make shellfish potentially hazardous to consumers are not present in that area.

Beginning at sunrise on Saturday, May 31, shellfish harvesting may resume in the following areas:

Town of Oyster Bay (north shore): All the normally certified areas in Cold Spring Harbor lying easterly of a line extending south of the stone house on Plum Point (Centre Island) to the northwesternmost point of land on Cove Point, on Cove Neck.

Town of Huntington: All the normally certified areas in Cold Spring Harbor lying easterly of a line extending south of the stone house on Plum Point (Centre Island) to the northwesternmost point of land on Cove Point, on Cove Neck.

However, the temporary closure remains in effect for all of Oyster Bay Harbor lying westerly of the line described above.

DEC will re-open the normally certified areas of Oyster Bay Harbor soon as possible based on the results of testing of shellfish samples that DEC plans to collect on Monday, June 2.

A recorded message advising harvesters of the status of temporary shellfish closures may be heard at (631) 444-0480. That message is updated during the course of the temporary closures. For a more detailed description of the closed area, call DEC's office of Marine Resources during normal business hours at (631) 444-0492. Additionally, information about temporary closures is available on DEC's website.